f you’ve never visited the Salt Flats at Bonneville, you are missing an amazing natural wonder. If you’ve never seen motorcycles run at the Bonneville Speedway, then you’re missing a wonder of another kind.
     The first annual International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB took place on September 6th-10th, 2004 at the Bonneville Speedway, on the Salt Flats, in eastern Utah. The event marked the first time ever that motorcycles ran on the speedway in their own event, usually having to share the speedway with their four wheeled brethren. Thanks to BUB’s Denis Manning and all of the sponsors, the event was open to anyone who wanted to run, as long as it was on two wheels.
     The first few days of the Speed Trials were marred by remnants of the previous week’s rainstorm. It wasn’t until mid way through the event that Mother Nature cooperated, the track began to dry out, and officials deemed the track ready for racing.
     Entrants included V-twins, streamliners, purpose-built vehicles, sport bikes and everything in between. One of the most amazing runs was the “Ack Attack” streamliner, piloted by motorcycle racing legend Jimmy Odom, crashing in excess of 300 miles per hour. Fortunately Odom walked away unscathed. Nice save, Jim!
     The late start didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits. Once the track dried and racing got underway, the delays were soon forgotten. During the event, 8 world and 22 national records were set.
     Judging by the excitement of the attendees, the 1st Annual International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB will go down in the record books as a huge success. For more information and up date race results, go to www.speedtrialsbybub.com.

Everyone did their best to keep out of the sun. The pits were flanked with canopies, umbrellas and the quintessential salt flat hat… any hat with a brim big enough to shade you and several of your pit crew!

Bonneville is an absolutely amazing place to see. If the wide-open skies and vast expanse of white terra firma doesn’t impress you, the motorcycles certainly will. The bike in the foreground is Broken Spoke Racing’s Indian, ridden by Dave Iverson, setting an AMA record of 105.643 MPH in the A-VG 1350 class.

Fred Fox, LeMans Corporation Chairman of the Board came out to watch some of the record setting runs.

Vintage race iron was on display along the backside of the pits. In 1991, “S&S Cycle’s ‘Tramp III’ held the record for fastest single engine conventional motorcycle with an average top speed of 226.148MPH.

This was about the only picture you could get of the Drag Specialties Fatbook Flyer II, ridden by Pete Davis. When the bike wasn’t out on the track, the pits were filled with people checking out the bike. Check out the Memphis Shades windshield…very nice!	BUB’s own Denis Manning could always be found in pits. Unfortunately, unfavorable track conditions and technical difficulties kept the #7 BUB streamliner from recording a complete pass on the salt.
Bennett’s Performance is one of Drag Specialties’ dealers that came in search of a speed record. Eric and Bob Bennett built this cool-looking Sportster and set the AMA record in the APG-1650 class with an average top speed of 141.187 MPH. Notice the custom Moto Guzzi gas tank and Air Tech tail section.	Gerald Rinehart, Wink Eller, and racing legend Jim Odom pose for a shot during the awards reception. Rinehart Racing, one of the event sponsors, paid $5,000 in prize money for the “Top Rinehart” award for top speed on a Rinehart Racing exhaust equipped motorcycle. The award went to Pete Davis on the Drag Specialties Fatbook Flyer with a top speed of 147.341 MPH.
The “Run-Whatcha-Brung” class offered anyone who wanted to race on the famed salt flats the opportunity to do so. The “Low Life chassis” on this custom v-twin was built and ridden by Jesse Jurrens of Legend Air Suspensions.